RBI may consider cut in cash reserve ratio: Subir Gokarn

08 Dec 2011 Evaluate

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is mulling a cut in cash reserve ratio (CRR), among other things, in the midst of tight liquidity in the money market and rising demand for easing of monetary conditions to face economic slowdown. The RBI deputy governor Subir Gokarn said, ‘there is a lot of debate over CRR cut. It's under consideration. Excessive borrowing through liquidity adjustment facility (LAF) is beyond our comfort level. We do think excessive withdrawal from LAF may be stressful for banks even if it may not strain the system as a whole.’

The demand for monetary action by the RBI is gaining impetus despite the central bank's stated anti-inflation stand. With economic growth slowing and a possible risk of contagion from euro-zone increasing, it is believed that there could be some monetary action by the central bank. Further, the liquidity condition in the system is also under pressure with banks borrowing considerably more from the LAF, of RBI than what it desires.

Banks have been withdrawing an average of Rs 1 lakh crore on a daily basis from the central bank since November 24, 2011 using the LAF window at 8.5% repo rate. However, the regulator's comfort level is 1% of net demand and time liabilities (NDTL), which is about Rs 60,000 crore. The above average borrowing has fuelled speculation that the apex bank may cut CRR by 50 basis points from 6% to inject liquidity into the system. Moreover, the RBI’s mid-quarter policy review is scheduled on December 16.

Though, Gokarn retained that CRR is a monetary tool - intended to display its stance on direction of interest rate, rather than one to manage the liquidity in the system. He said, ‘whether using an instrument that is part of monetary toolkit to address liquidity issue is certainly a debate, which we have to engage in.’

However, analyst are of the view that a repose in the reserve ratio may not be used, as inflation is still quite high and there are no signs of moderation, although food prices have started showing signs of a decline after 38 months. On this Gokarn said, the RBI will persist to do more open market operations to infuse liquidity and the third one is lined up on December 08 to release Rs 10,000 crore in the system.

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